Larry Foyt, Silestone And Key Motorsports Enter Daytona Race

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Veteran driver Larry Foyt, Silestone USA and Key Motorsports have announced a partnership that will enter Foyt in the 2007 season-opening NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the Daytona International Speedway.

The Silestone by Cosentino Chevrolet Silverado will become the first-ever race truck to bear the new Key Motorsports #44 number, joining the #40 Key Motorsports entry that will be driven by former NCTS champion Mike Bliss.

The son of Hall of Fame Indy Car driver A. J. Foyt, Larry has several years of NASCAR racing experience under his belt. The 29-year-old Texan last raced competitively in what is now the Nextel Cup Series in 2003 for A. J. Foyt Racing. In 20 starts that year, Foyt posted a season-best 16th place finish in the Homestead, FL season finale in which he also enjoyed his best qualifying effort of 12th. He also drove in three races in 2004 including his first Daytona 500 before sponsorship woes put him on the sidelines.

Foyt first broke into NASCAR racing in 2001, running the first of two full seasons for his own Busch Series team. In 65 starts over those two seasons, Foyt posted two top 10, six top 15 and 16 top 20 finishes and earned just over $1 million. He finished 20th in the championship driver point standings in 2002 before moving into the Nextel Cup Series the following season.

Foyt recently took on the role of Team Director for his father’s IndyCar Series operation, one in which Larry also served as a driver for a handful of races over a three year stint beginning in 2004 that included several Indy 500 starts.

Larry began his driving career in 1993 driving go-karts and has added experience in USAC Formula 2000, SCCA Formula 2000 and American Speed Association (ASA) late model competition. He is also a graduate of Texas Christian University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications in 2000.

“It’s great that we have been able to put this deal together for a run at Daytona, ” Foyt said. “I loved racing there in the Nextel Cup and Busch Series and am looking forward to my first experience in the Craftsman Truck Series. I want to do a good job for Silestone since this is the company’s very first venture into racing, and I am looking forward to the challenge. I am thrilled that Curtis (Key) has opened his race shop to host this opportunity, ” he added.

Team owner Key has seen his race operation expand dramatically over the last 18 months from a 3-truck, 4-emlpoyee operation in Chesapeake, VA to a thriving organization in the heart of stock car country just outside Charlotte. Key is excited about the opportunity to field two trucks in the 2007 season opener.

“This race organization has come a very long way in a very short amount of time, and I could not be any prouder of the hard work and time put in by every member of this race team – before and now, ” said team owner Curtis W. Key, Sr. “Our goal is to have both the 40 and 44 trucks perform to their absolute best in Daytona, and we are appreciative of the confidence that Larry (Foyt) and Silestone USA have placed in us, ” Key added.

Silestone USA was originally established in 1998 as Cosentino USA to distribute and market Silestone natural quartz surfaces in North America. The 70-year-old company was first established in Almeria, Spain dealing in general stone production. Sixty years later, the advent of the natural quartz surfacing industry added a new dimension to the company and would eventually lead sales to the American market through Silestone.

Silestone today is the world’s largest manufacturer of such products with 75% of all natural quartz surface sales in North America made by the company.

“We are really excited to be a part of the Craftsman Truck/Daytona experience. With the Key Motorsports/Larry Foyt/Silestone combination, we feel that we have all the pieces of the puzzle with which to have a good showing and a successful race, ” commented Brando Calvo, Divisional President – South Atlantic Region.


 
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